2025-2026 Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects
The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects focuses on the federal efforts needed to accelerate regulatory efficiency for clean growth projects. It is intended to help get clean growth projects built faster by accelerating decision-making related to these projects.
Section 1. Overview of CIRNAC's Role in Supporting Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency
CIRNAC advances the priorities of the government and the objectives of the Cabinet Directive on Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects during the project assessment process. The department supports a whole-of-government approach to consultation, accommodation, and engagement with Indigenous Peoples through training, the use of the Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information System, the development of consultation protocols and policy guidance, the provision of subject matter expertise during environmental assessments, assistance to partner departments in fulfilling the legal duty to consult, and guidance on Canada's relationships with Indigenous groups.
As a key player in the northern co-management system, CIRNAC administers the disposition of lands and mineral rights on federal lands in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories under the Territorial Lands Act and provides specialized expertise during environmental assessments and permitting processes. While consultation and engagement remain central to CIRNAC's mandate, the department also contributes to regulatory efficiency by streamlining federal input into territorial, co-management board, and Indigenous-led processes.
CIRNAC leads two initiatives that further support regulatory and permitting efficiency: the Northern Regulatory Initiative (NRI) under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy and the Northern Participant Funding Program (NPFP). The NRI enhances Indigenous and regulatory system readiness by funding regional, baseline and cumulative effects studies as well as capacity building. The NPFP ensures Indigenous governments and organizations have the resources to participate meaningfully in major project reviews. Budget 2025 allocated $25.5M over four years, via the Arctic Infrastructure Fund, to both programs, increasing their capacity to support northern regulatory efficiency. These initiatives directly support the goals of Building Canada's Clean Future by ensuring meaningful Indigenous participation in assessment and permitting processes.
CIRNAC's efforts underscore its commitment to advancing regulatory and permitting efficiency for clean growth projects in the North. By strengthening service standards, providing timely guidance to proponents and coordinating meaningful Indigenous consultation, the department has made strides in aligning with the Cabinet Directive's objectives. These initiatives not only support the development of clean growth projects, but also foster collaboration, capacity building, and sustainable resource development in northern regions, while respecting and reflecting the unique northern contexts rooted in modern treaties.
Section 2. Results for Thematic Areas of the Cabinet Directive
Theme 1: Strengthening service standards
Results Achieved:
- CIRNAC utilized a comprehensive dashboard to track internal standards and legislated timelines. Officials ensured that briefing materials and recommendations were routed with sufficient time to meet these timelines. However, no clean growth project decisions were required during the reporting period.
- The Northern Participant Funding Program responded promptly to proponent applications, meeting its service standard 100% of the time by acknowledging receipt of proposals, applications, and work plans within ten business days. Clear standards for risk evaluation and lines of accountability across regional offices were maintained through clear and consistent communication on an ongoing basis, in addition to regular quarterly touch-base calls. All corporate service standards were incorporated into tracking tools and updated regularly to ensure the program can readily meet legislated timelines.
Theme 2: Providing timely guidance to proponents
Results Achieved:
- During engagement on the renewal of the federal consultation guidelines, CIRNAC met with industry representatives to explore ways to consider their views within updated guidance. This will help raise awareness of concerns from industry representatives and support ongoing discussions which have focused on sharing consultation experiences and working towards meaningful and effective processes.
- There were no relevant projects under assessment in 2025-26 that required CIRNAC to provide information requests to proponents during the reporting period.
- Under the NRI, the department supported and collaborated on the development of a regional database and major project review tool to improve the efficiency and transparency of project reviews.
- Also under the NRI, CIRNAC initiated an analysis of regulatory system challenges and opportunities in the NWT to identify evidence-based solutions and reduce capacity constraints for governments and regulators.
- The department collaborated with the Government of the Northwest Territories on targeted amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Waters Regulations, simplifying water licencing for low-risk projects. These changes, once complete, are expected to provide greater regulatory certainty for proponents.
Theme 3: Coordinating consultation with Indigenous Peoples
Results Achieved:
- Following engagement with Indigenous Peoples, CIRNAC identified opportunities to strengthen coordination of Crown consultation, which informed the creation of the Major Project Office to enhance whole-of-government alignment, regulatory efficiency for major projects, and consultation processes. These opportunities included providing predictable funding, centralized tracking and monitoring, accountability in addressing accommodation measures, and coordinating access to federal decision-makers. This fiscal year, CIRNAC worked closely with the Major Project Office to support implementation of these measures and enhance coordination and regulatory efficiency. In addition, in 2025-26, the department:
- Supported engagement between Indigenous Modern Treaty and Self-Government partners and federal organizations on major projects, economic development, and related policy priorities.
- Advanced shared priorities, including economic prosperity, regulatory reform, and new approaches to dispute resolution through the Intergovernmental Policy Circle and Modern Treaty Implementation Policy Working Group.
- Brought together Indigenous partners and senior federal officials through the Deputy Ministers' Oversight Committee on Modern Treaty Implementation to discuss cross-cutting implementation priorities and strengthen whole-of-government coordination.
- Worked closely with CanNor's Northern Projects Management Office, acting as Crown Consultation Coordinator, and other federal regulatory departments to support and advance Crown consultation activities for the Mary River Mine Steensby Port and Railway components.